Brussels officials hold talks in the Chinese capital as they seek a commitment to reduce surging exports to the bloc
4-MIN READ4-MINFinbarr Berminghamin BrusselsPublished: 6:12pm, 2 Sep 2026A delegation from the European Commission has been locked in talks with Chinese officials in Beijing, as the sides look to find a diplomatic off-ramp from a looming trade war before an October deadline set by Brussels.The EU team was spearheaded by Denis Redonnet, the bloc’s top trade enforcement officer, who was recently made point person on China trade policy – a recognition that in EU circles, talk of partnership has largely been usurped by rivalry and competition.Later this month, the European Union’s top trade official, Ditte Juul Jorgensen, will follow Redonnet to the Chinese capital, she confirmed on Wednesday, as Brussels assesses whether Beijing is willing to make the sort of concessions that could see them avoid sliding into a damaging tit-for-tat exchange in the autumn.
“We see an engaged China in these talks, but of course the challenges are very, very significant,” Jorgensen told a hearing at the European Parliament on Wednesday.
“What we see in relation to China is ... increasing concentration dependencies, including in strategic sectors – that is a risk to the EU,” Jorgensen said.
